New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-08
SKULKING IND SULKING.

The President is now in full retreat before
the Union veterans. He has reconsidered his
acceptance of an invitation to attend the Grand
Army Encampment at st. Louis. He now de-
clines to 90. and in his letter to the Mayor Of
St. Louis states the reasons with what may be
described as stark naked candor He is con-
WINGED that he would be an unwelcome guest;
that many Posts of the Grand Army would
remain at home if he were to go to the En-
campment; that he would probably be in
suited and possibly mobbed by angry veterans
and that his public acts, notably the pension
vetoes and battle-hags order, would be We
hemently denounced, possibly not with the
approval of the main body, but certainly by
MANY who have been wantonly" assaling him.
He will not CO. He is confident that he is
not wanted. He will not stir up strife and
evil passions, nor "rctard the progress OF the
sentiment Of common brotherhood which the
Grand Army of the Republic has so good al
opportunity to increase and foster.' lie pre-
fers to stay away and rub his sores. For he
himself admits it, he is sore, very sore
This Is fair synopsis of the Presidents
letter. But lest we may be charged with
dealing unmstly by him, the full text is re-
printed In another c0lumn. 1t will DO read
with mingled feelings of anyazement and con-
tempt by friends and foes alike. The Pres
ident has, in truth, made bad matter infinite
ly worse by refusing to 60 to St Louis and
by Offering the snivelling excuses contained
in this letter. man Of genius and courage
would have found A the Encampment
browning opportunity for regaining prestige
lost through a series of incredible plumbers.
II the President had gore TO the soldiers re-
union the dignity of his Office wound have
amnly protected him against insult, and have
moderated the fury of the angnest of the vet
erans If he could have waited patiently for
a hearing and at the right moment have made
a cordial, sympathetic and patriotic speech to
the Grand Army, he would have succeeded In
disarming the most hostile critics. Even II
his worst apprehensions had been confirmed
and he had been Kissed by the soldiers and
angrily denounced by some of the leading
speakers, he would have profted by the dem
oIrtration, which would have caused reaction
in his favor But if his courage had been
equal to the occasion, he could have done
better than this He could have converted
the Encampnscnt into scene Of personal tn
umph by reminding the veterans Of their heroic
achievements, by recognizing their virtues and
sacrifices, and by appealing to patriotism
which had proved itself by noble deeds and
not by Kisses and angry words. The Pres
ident allowed great opportunity for regain
ing the confidence Of the soldiers to escape him
from the Encamment
The President Is careful to anticipate re-
Elections upon his personal courage. He pro
tests that he has not considered threats OF
personal violence and harm which have been
made against him He does not seem to be
aware that he insults the veterans by referring
to the possibility of such an outrage. The men
who fought for the Union are not lawless
desperadoes They are not In the habit Of
mobbng Presidents. They would have re-
spected the office, if the President had attended
their annual gathering and he would have
shown his own sense OF the dignity OF his |
station If he had kept his engagement with the |
people of st. Louis, even In the face Of CAM |
ORE and angry criticism from the Grand Army |
He makes a very serious mistake IL he thinks
he oan protect the dignity Of the peoples
highest Office by sulkng in the Executive Man |
sion and nursing his sores. Even II it were
truc-and we assert that the Presidents charge |
is foul calumny upon the honor of the coun-
try's battlescarred yeterans-that he would |
have been helplessly subjected to insult at the
Encampment, tho dignity Of his exalted station
required his presence and commanding re-
buke to those who should forget the respect
due to the Office, If not to the man. Certainly |
he will not increase public respect for his civic
pre- eminence by ignobly skulking in Washing
ton, either afraid ashamed to meet the
Nations bravest and best defenders i'll tho
war for the Union.